Hi everyone. We’ve been listening to all of your feedback about the PS3 and PSP, and with these next firmware updates (coming soon), we’ve added a number of new features and improved some existing functionality to make your PS3/PSP experience even better.
PSP (v5.00) update
Let’s start with the v5.00 update for PSP. In this version, you’ll notice the addition of the PlayStation Network icon on the XMB. You can now sign up for PlayStation Network, manage your account and access PlayStation Store directly from your PSP – meaning you can download games directly to your PSP while connected via Wi-Fi. Getting games, demos and trailers while on-the-go has never been easier! Check out the screen below.
The current PlayStation Store on the PC will be down in the interim as we take some time to revamp. Don’t worry, it will re-launch soon after we’ve made some tweaks. Please keep in mind, if you already have a PlayStation Network account, simply sign in on your PSP using your existing information. The same account and wallet can be used on PS3 and PSP. You will be able to check out the PlayStation Store on the PSP soon, as we’ll have a video demo featuring Grace Chen posted soon on the Blog.
Update v5.00 adds a sleep timer option that can be used while you are playing music on your PSP. In addition, we’ve added a full screen keyboard option for text entry and have redesigned the background of the XMB. You’ll be able to find all of the information on Firmware v5.00 here once it goes live.
PS3 (v2.50) update
Now on to the PS3 v2.50 update. The latest features/enhancements include:
- Support for the PS3 Official Bluetooth Headset – we’ve told you about the upcoming Bluetooth Headset and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation Bundle on the Blog. This latest firmware installment enables High-Quality (HQ) mode, which delivers clear and wide-band online voice chat. On top of that, an added on-screen indicator shows battery status, volume level and use of HQ mode.
- PlayStation Trophies interface enhancements – I know that many of you are busy collecting trophies and raising your PlayStation Trophy level. This update makes sharing and comparing your trophies with your friends even easier. On 1st part of the profile page you’ll see a symbol under level that represents level and the actual percentage towards the next level along with the existing level meter. The level symbol carries over to the trophy comparison screen where you will now be able to see your level, your friend’s level and the percentage towards the next level for both users along with all of the game by game comparison information you see today.
- Friend status – Offline friends on your Friends list will have information below their avatars that will indicate how long it has been since they were last online.
- Video – This update adds the Scene Search feature similar to the feature on the PSP. Activating this feature while viewing a video on the PS3 will break the video up into scenes that you can quickly access by pressing the X button. You can break the videos into one, two or five minute intervals. In addition, you can now choose to have all of the videos under the video section of the XMB play in sequence. Go to Settings then Video Settings to turn this option on.
- PlayStation Store – We’ve added a redeem codes option right on the store to make it easier to redeem your PlayStation Network Cards and promotion codes. In addition, PlayStation Network Sign Up and Account Management have been redesigned.
- Power Save Settings – You can now set your PS3 and wireless controllers to turn off automatically after set periods of inactivity. Go to Settings then Power Save Settings to turn on these features.
- Background Downloading – You now have the option to set the PS3 to turn off automatically after a background download or installation of content has completed. This option is available when you turn off the system from the button under [Users] while content is being downloaded or installed.
- In-game Screenshots – this tool will allow everyone to capture, share and in other words, immortalize their favorite gameplay moments. This will be supported on a game by game basis. Please check back to find out which games will support this feature.
- In addition to all of the features above there are some additional features and enhancements included in 2.50. Once the update launches, you can read all of the details here.
The support for the Bluetooth Headset will be of particular interest to all of you SOCOM fans. With the “Proximity Chat” feature, SOCOM: Confrontation gameplay is intensified as it allows you to experience high-quality voice playback in full surround sound. Whether the action is near or far, Proximity Chat clearly matches distance to sound effects and voiceovers within the game, putting you in the heart of the action.
Enjoy and please share your thoughts with us.
@p-s-3
The ability to send a photo/Video from a mobile I believe was demonstrated in a Home presentation. I would expect that ability in home.
@Trat
ps3 gamers really would like ps2 b/c for the ps3. I have it, but I was fortunate enough to live in the U.S. and purchase the 60 gig model that has the emotion engine and graphics synthesizer from the ps2.
@lifeRPGs
playstation movie store is already there
in-game playstation store would be nice but I doubt feasible. Even the 360 doesn’t have that.
Appear Offline feature already there
voice recognition seems a bit lofty
avatar of out choice is too risky due to inappropriate content.
sending video and audio files to friends is borderline peer-to-peer. Record and movie studios would make quite a fuss about this
Video chat during a game seems like a bit much, but audio chat seems reasonable, especially since the 360 can do this.
ability to continue download while playing movie, game, ps2 game is already there
auto-ps3 shutdown upon completion of download is in the new firmware
ability to download GAME patches from the PC would invite too much unofficial and possibly unethical activity.
Isn’t the official calendar already done with the Information Board. I would be glad to see the Information Board replaced with a grid like calendar though.
i think that the PS3 Crew who do the updates doesn’t read this blog.. and they just fix the problems they found by themselves.
THEY SHOULD HEAR THE USERS PROBLEMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Ratchet3
I second that.
wow this is like the best update ever!
@Nymo
They will be for psp-1000 users as well as the rest.
One more thing I would like to have exept for what i wrote before.
To do reviews on the games you own would be super :D and to be able to see the games you’re friends own.
@geckoman
Now all the ps3 needs is cross-game invites, persistent voice chat, and in-game access to music to match the abilities of the 360.
@Daver
shuffle for all songs on the hard drive is already there. Just group songs to display them all.
@B-Rein
videos can be put into albums. What would be good is if there would be a way to edit the album info for multiple pieces of data. Folders would be better, but I don’t think Sony wants to allow folders.
Wow! Amazing update, guys. Good work.
@CGAIT
As for the calculator, try the google homepage.
Sorry for the double post but, will we have something where we are able to view which game we last played with our id’s?
What I really like is the in-game screen shots and friend’s status is available on the XBOX 360 so that one isn’t new in the industry.
What I really wanted was custom organizing of the cross media bar (XMB) for games and videos. Like for example having all my demos collapse behind one demo, or episodic content like SIREN: Blood Curse episode collapse behind episode one (12 eposides). The reason for this will be that it won’t look as busy with everything opened.
Great Firmware update for PS3, much appreciated. I was wondering when we would finally be able to have the PS3 turn itself off. You need to make it automatically install downloaded content after downloading.
When is the video store coming to Canada?
@darkthroniar
They do listen. People just need to speak up more often and not just when there’s a preview of a firmware update. Moreover they need to make sure there request is not already available.
I wonder if they fixed the cosmetical mistake of the battery icon showing over the time when you press the PS button, or atleast give the option to disable/move the time ‘box’.
@Terminator_TX3
You can do this already by editing the album info for those pieces of data and sorting all the data by album. It would be better if that editing could be done on multiple pieces of data simultaneously though.
Awesomest…post…ever.
Love the update. Please add passwords for the user login in the future so I may have full parental control.
THIS UPDATE REEKS OF AWESOMENESS, GREAT JOB SONY!!!:D:D:D
Here’s a big request I haven’t seen yet – when inputting the parental control code, please find a way so the code doesn’t show up on the screen while I’m typing it in! Kids have to leave the room every time I type the code in for them, which is very frustrating, and very unsecure.
good update. i like the video feature that shows alot of scenes. always use that on ym PSP.
everything thing in this update is really good. hopefully can read messages on my PSP> that would be really cool
For the PSP please for the love of god get more games out there! We need some more Japanese games, another Killzone game, and please for the love of god give us a date for Grand Turismo on the PSP! It’s been in limbo for months now!
Also any chance we could get the fallowing on the PSP as well:
Flash player 9
ability to use at least 1MB of memory for the Web Browser. (would help alot with loading some pages on the web IMHO)
More online games that support PSN log ins, and have VOIP support! We need another Medal of Honor game that has VOIP support! How about getting Activision to release a PSP exclusive version of COD:5 in an over the sholder format ala Resistance: Retrobution, and give the new developers full exses to your new PSP development software Engine!
You got to do this! It will help games on the PSP increase their scale, scope, and bets of all looks! I can just see a StarWars: Renagade Squadron 2 with Resistance: Retrobution level graphics, and VOIP enabled online play, as well as full 16 player online gameing and DLC!
ALso please make a big push to get the WipeOut: Pulse DLC on the PSP Store! It’s been over a year and the Euro store has had it for a long time now! When do we US customers get our WipEout: Pulse content!?
I meant custom grouping not organizing (sorting).
This has probably been said a couple of times but. . .
You guys need to have a low power option like the 360 does and lets the controllers charge while the PS3 is turned off. Maybe you don’t know how this works but if something that needs charging is plugged into the 360 while its on and you turn it off. It goes into a low power mode and then shuts off when it’s done charging.
Otherwise great update! Glad to see auto off controllers.
Now all we need is a messenger, and unfortunately, MS owns MSN… don’t suppose we could rent it? =p
you should have a list of our problems and posible solutions.. for future updates.. i’m not the only one with the slow boot.. i think there are a lot of guys out there with the same problem.. this going to be my 3rd update and no one fix my problem.. yeah improvements are good.. and make the ps3 beauty.. but what about the bugs or problems?.. i know you guys are doing a good job.. i send and email to tech support like 2 months ago.. and they just answer me whit the tech support phone # and i hear from more guys what is not worth call cause they don’t fix the slow boot problem..
anyways my problem occurs with one of the updates, so now with the new ones i don’t know if they going to fix my problem or make me more problems..
Always getting better and better! :)
One thing that I’d like to see added is that … well .. instead of having to go through over 100+ game/demo downloads to find something that I bought and downloaded … could I simply find it on the PSN store and download it there?
I recently updated my HDD and found this to be a hassle … as well as my Qore episodes … if I’ve already bought it, why can’t I simply select it from the PSN store and download it there?
I’m sure its coming … either way, PSN is improving by bounds and leaps … I can still remember the old days of HTML PSN store hehehe
To: FeaturePreacher
It doesn’t work the way you think in the videos/games sections. It groups everything behind the first game/video. That only works in the music section this is what I want in the games/video section.
The video section can be grouped by title, by month, and by album. When done by album its title is “unknown” why, I don’t know. In the game section, it’s by format or album. Since everything is a PlayStation 3 game it’s yet again all grouped into one in the format grouping.
It’s nice to see you guys get closer and closer to the Xbox 360’s functionality. Better late than never, I suppose.
Now, about the bleeding of third-party exclusives…
Is there any way we can get a “search” function or some sort of organization for our downloaded history? Sometime it’s a pain to have to go redownload all the DLC you’ve purchased, or to go scroll back to June in the history in order to find the October issue of Qore. It would be a big help!
That’s quite the update :) A lot of useful features there. Not sure if it’s already in the cards but any future video codec updates (the ones that are there as I can’t play some MP4 files and adding some such as MKV?)
I’m cool
READ PLZZZZZ
My ps3 has the message problem…could you guys fix it in this update….Socom comes out tom and i want to be able to msg my friends when i knife them in the back..ty
I just hope they finally let me sort the games, it is getting pretty messy on my memory stick
@247 that sucks i hope they answer u please if one of u guys can help him answer him
@Terminator_TX3
Do you know how to change the album entry for a piece of data?
Now that is an awesome update
PSN on the PSP! Perfect! And Im really interested in this XMB background redesign. Will it be a wave likt in the PS3? Coz that is SEXY compared the the current PSP one lol.
Also, do you think that this will include friend management and messaging on PSN on the PSP? Because that would make this perfect! I really wabnt to be able to message my friends with PS3s from my PSP.
awesome update Sony!
We need this mandatory after 08 tho… (developers will take the lazy way and not use the features)
Wonderful Sony! Great update, the only thing left is the ability to log in more than one profile, and take more than one person online from 1 PS3.
Keep it up!
Looking forward to it, can’t wait!
Good news. It will be nice sharing images with friends and Family.
The PSP news is also much appreciated. Thank you!
noooo i dont wanna exit the lbp beta
Sounds great! The only features I can think of that I still want to see on my PS3 are:
“Invisible Mode” for PSN, at least in the XMB or when playing offline while connected
The ability to select which wallpapers are displayed under “Themes”
Home!!! :)
I’d also REALLY like to see you encouraging more (or maybe some) developers to include the in-game XMB custom soundtrack support, please!
Sounds good! BUT, what about divx support for the PSP? You added that capability for the PS3 a while ago. Still waiting… (in vain)?
wow, that’s awesome!!!! great work!!!
but still some things would be highly appreciated:
1. updated flash for i-browser..
2. folder creating..
3. matroska (.mkv) support..
4. bigger file attachments in messages..
5. more xvid codecs..
6. wmv support…
7. image editing..
8. enhanced memory storage for i-browsing..
9. make browser more java friendly – very slow…
10. cookies problem with some i-sites, for example facebook not logging in (asks to enable cookies, but it’s enabled!).. game.co.uk not logging, some sort of chaos..
11. icq/skype client would be great: far not all of my friends own a ps3 and looking forward to own one… (running in background would be superb!!)
12. bored of zooming in/out with i-browser… zoom function when a webpage is fully adjusted to the screen width would be great.. now i have to zoom to any section of a webpage then zoom out.. it’s so slow..
All we need now is Cross game chat & Cross game invite.